Harvard China Fund Student Summer Programs

Summer Service and Learning Program in Rural China by Tsinghua University
Summer 2013

Program Overview: The Educational Poverty Alleviation, initiated by Tsinghua University in 2003, is a public project aimed at benefiting China's poverty-stricken areas. The goal is to provide people in underdeveloped areas with the opportunity to utilize high-quality educational and training resources through the support of modern technology. As part of the Project, the Summer Service and Learning Program in rural China, supported by the Wang Foundation and Tseng Hin Pei Charity Fund, has organized 1,429 Tsinghua University students, accompanied by 220 faculty members, and 432 American students and faculty members to teach English, conduct social research and provide lectures and forums to students in rural counties over the past six summers. The program promotes communication with local teachers and students, as well as communication and understanding between China and the United States. The 2013 program also includes Chinese culture and language classes for two weeks before the start of the service component.

Program Dates:
Chinese Language and Culture Program:
July 9 - July 12: Chinese language classes, discussions and visits to famous cultural and historical sites in Beijing
July 13 - July 17: Chinese language and history classes, and visits to famous cultural and historical sites in Xi'an
Service Program in rural China: Thursday, July 18 through Monday, August 5, 2013

To learn more about the Summer Service and Learning Program, including program details and schedules, please review this brochure from Tsinghua University.

2013 Program Participants

Tenzin Dickyi
Harvard Extension School, ALM 2013

Edward Gan
Harvard College, 2013

Omolade Sogade
Harvard College, 2016

Jeffrey Wang
Harvard College, 2016

Harvard China Student Language and Culture Program
Summer 2013

Program Overview: The Harvard China Fund is offering a Chinese Language and Culture Program in collaboration with Sichuan University for summer 2013. This 8-week Chinese language and culture summer program, organized by Sichuan University, will combine classes on intensive Chinese language, history, and social sciences with visits and field trips in Chengdu and to other nearby sites. Students will be able to immerse themselves in Chinese language study and the culture of southwest China. The program will also provide an opportunity for Harvard students to interact with other international and local students at Sichuan University.

This summer, Sichuan University generously provided scholarships to cover tuition, food and housing on campus, and all students also received a travel grant from the Harvard China Fund, with the help of a donor, to cover their international airfare.

Program Dates: Monday, June 10 through Monday, August 5, 2013

2013 Program Participants

Abigail Bergman
Harvard Extension School, ALM 2014

Neha Dalal
Harvard College, 2016

Luke Demas
Harvard College, 2016

Daven Farnham
Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, MA 2014

Ileana Hang
Harvard Extension School, ALB 2015

Ralph Hunt
Harvard College, 2015

Claire Leibowicz
Harvard College, 2016

Independent Internship with Machik, NPO

Machik Overview: Machik seeks to help chart new pathways forward as communities on the Tibetan plateau approach uncertain times. By respecting the standpoint of others and appreciating our responsibility toward one another and to our collective human future, we have learned that meaningful change is possible, even under challenging circumstances. In our years of working directly with local Tibetan communities, these principles have enabled us to find our way across many uncertainties. Students may be placed as interns in either the Summer Enrichment Program or Social Entrepreneurship.

Summer Enrichment Program Overview: Machik's Summer Enrichment Program (SEP) is a one-of-a-kind learning program that offers Tibetan youth from across Tibet a dynamic and stimulating learning environment for four weeks every summer. Volunteer teachers offer daily instruction in classes ranging from English and social entrepreneurship, to participatory filmmaking, science and health. Hailing from across the Tibetan region, from top Chinese schools and from around the world, SEP's volunteer corps learn to appreciate and understand their differences through working together. Volunteer interns offer daily instructions in topics ranging from English and social entrepreneurship, to participatory filmmaking and science in health.

Social Entrepreneurship Overview: Machik has been at the forefront of promoting social entrepreneurship in Tibet. Building on our commitment to innovation and social impact, we have supported and worked with dynamic Tibetan entrepreneurs who demonstrate an uncommon dedication to making a measurable impact in their communities.

Machik has also worked to build a new global network for Tibetan social entrepreneurs. By connecting Tibetan innovators to the leading edge of global social venture capital, we provide a portal for developing new partnerships and synergies that can help develop solutions to social challenges on the Tibetan plateau.

2013 Program Participant

Alexandra Foote
Harvard College, 2015

Contacts

Maggie Zong
Associate Director
Harvard China Fund
mzong@fas.harvard.edu
617-496-3982

Julia Cai
Program Coordinator
Harvard China Fund
juliacai@fas.harvard.edu
617-496-1587